Nets, Terms and Formulas: Three Views of Concurrent Processes and Their Relationship (Paperback)

E.R. Olderog

ISBN 10: 0521018455 / ISBN 13: 9780521018456

Published by Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 2005

About this Item

Paperback. The author presents a theory of concurrent processes where three different semantic description methods that are usually studied in isolation are brought together. Petri nets describe processes as concurrent and interacting machines; algebraic process terms describe processes as abstract concurrent processes; and logical formulas specify the intended communication behaviour of processes. At the heart of this theory are two sets of transformation rules for the top-down design of concurrent processes. The first set can be used to transform stepwise logical formulas into process terms, whilst process terms can be transformed into Petri nets by the second set. These rules are based on novel techniques for the operational and denotational semantics of concurrent processes. Various results and relationships between nets, terms and formulas starting with formulas and illustrated by examples. The use of transformations is demonstrated in a series of case studies, and the author also identifies directions for future research. The book is written for graduate students and researchers in computer science; the author assumes a basic understanding of mathematical terminology, predicate logic and programming, but develops the semantic concepts used in a self-contained manner. The core of the material can be used for a one-semester course on concurrent processes. The book is self-contained in the semantics used, and will be of considerable interest to researchers and graduates in computer science working in models of concurrency. The author presents a theory whereby nets, terms and formulas represent concurrent process at three levels of abstractions: Petri nets are used to describe all details of the operational machine behavior of processes. Algebraic process terms such as Calculus of Communicating Systems (CCS) or Communicating Sequential Processes (CSP) two of the main models for parallel programming, are used to describe the architecture of processes, i.e. how they can be composed from subprocesses. Logical formulas of a first-order trace logic are used to describe the safety and liveness aspects of the communication behavior of processes as required by their users. The main emphasis and technical contribution of this theory are transformations for a top-down design of concurrent processes starting with formulas and proceeding through terms to nets. Shipping may be from our Sydney, NSW warehouse or from our UK or US warehouse, depending on stock availability.

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Bibliographic Details

• Title: Nets, Terms and Formulas: Three Views of Concurrent Processes and Their Relationship (Paperback)
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press, Cambridge
• Publication Date: 2005
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0521018455
• ISBN 13: 9780521018456
• Binding: Paperback
• Condition: new

About this title

Synopsis

The author presents a theory of concurrent processes where three different semantic description methods that are usually studied in isolation are brought together. Petri nets describe processes as concurrent and interacting machines; algebraic process terms describe processes as abstract concurrent processes; and logical formulas specify the intended communication behaviour of processes. At the heart of this theory are two sets of transformation rules for the top-down design of concurrent processes. The first set can be used to transform stepwise logical formulas into process terms, whilst process terms can be transformed into Petri nets by the second set. These rules are based on novel techniques for the operational and denotational semantics of concurrent processes. Various results and relationships between nets, terms and formulas starting with formulas and illustrated by examples. The use of transformations is demonstrated in a series of case studies, and the author also identifies directions for research.

Review

"The unique feature of this book is that it unifies different views of concurrency rather than adding another view. The author does so in a clear and convincing fashion....requires the reader to be fluent in such mathematical concepts as sets, relations, functions, and predicate logic, and to be familiar with the basic concepts of automata and regular languages. Readers who enjoy the mathematical maturity will find the book excellent: it is carefully written, and the material is presented in a well-chosen order and at the right level of detail. The author must be a good teacher." Martin Rem, Computing Reviews